Australia End Day Three in Control as Cummins Takes Three Wickets Against South Africa

Australia secured a substantial first-innings lead thanks to an impressive bowling performance led by Pat Cummins. After dismissing South Africa for 284, the visitors gained a 106-run advantage in the first innings and reached 33 without loss in their second innings at stumps on day three. Their overall lead now stands at 139 runs.

At the close of play on Sunday, Nic Maddinson was unbeaten on 17 and Travis Head on 10 in Australia’s second innings. Play was called off early due to bad light, with nearly 13 overs lost during the day.

Australia had earlier posted 390 in their first innings. Despite being reduced to 124 for six at one stage, the visitors recovered through Matt Renshaw’s career-best 190. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 284. Cummins claimed three wickets for 54 runs, while Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon took two wickets each, conceding 63, 54 and 58 runs respectively.

David Bedingham was South Africa’s leading scorer with 49 off 73 balls. The hosts were in danger of falling well behind after slipping to 197 for eight. However, a 52-run ninth-wicket partnership between Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer helped them recover somewhat. Maharaj scored 34 before being dismissed, while Harmer remained unbeaten on 35.

Australia maintained the pressure on South Africa from the start of the day’s play. Resuming at 27 for one from day two, the hosts added 57 runs to their overnight partnership through Aiden Markram and Bedingham. However, Markram was dismissed for 37 in the 21st over, edging Starc to Steve Smith at slip.

South African captain Temba Bavuma was the next to depart, scoring just three before being caught by Smith off Lyon while attempting a reverse sweep. Bedingham then fell to Cummins, with Smith once again taking an excellent catch in the slips.

After lunch, Cummins struck again to put South Africa under further pressure. Wiaan Mulder scored 30 off 50 balls, including three fours and a six, before his dismissal ended a 56-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs. Stubbs followed soon afterwards, falling for 32 after being caught at square leg off Cummins.

Lyon then had Kyle Verreynne caught at slip for 13, leaving South Africa struggling at 197 for seven. Marco Jansen provided some resistance with a quickfire 26 off 20 balls, including six fours, before being caught off Hazlewood.

South Africa reached 238 for eight at tea, with Maharaj and Harmer helping the hosts move beyond the follow-on mark. However, their 50-run partnership came to an end when Starc dismissed Maharaj.

South Africa are the reigning World Test Champions, having defeated Australia in the 2025 final. This is Australia’s first tour of South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. At the end of the third day of the opening Test, the visitors are in a strong position to take control of the match.